Dr. Ted Bader

Southern Nazarene University’s science alumni are a unique
group of people. They are close like family. As a result, many of them
are quick to help each other and their alma mater when needs arise.

Dr. Ted Bader, Class of 1976, is one such graduate who is part of
a very special group of science alumni called Catalysts. This group was
formed in 1977 with the mission of providing major financial assistance
to the Science and Mathematics Division of SNU. Around 175 alumni
have joined Catalysts since 1977, with around 60 contributing to
Catalysts annually. Dr. Bader and the Catalysts were instrumental in
helping fund one of the university’s most prestigious scientific
accomplishments: the Quetzal Education Research Center in Costa
Rica.

Dr. Bader’s involvement with the QERC began in 1995 when he
received a call from Dr. Leo Finkenbinder asking him to come to Costa
Rica and help raise money for the research center.

“After considering the issue, I felt the Lord would have me visit
with Dr. Finkenbinder and explore the SNU QERC site,” said Dr. Bader.

From 1986 to 1995, the Catalysts gave several thousand dollars
to support Dr. Finkenbinder in his travels to Costa Rica, which was an
instrumental time that ultimately led to the creation of the QERC.During this time Dr. Finkenbinder worked at the request of the Chacon
family in stabilizing the ecology of the Quetzal valley. Dr. Bader said
1995 was a crucial year for the project, as the time had come to begin
building the QERC research facility, which could not become a reality
without proper funding at an initial amount of $15,000.

During his visit to Costa Rica, Dr. Bader recalled how the warmth
of the Quetzal valley people and the high regard they looked up to Dr.
Finkenbinder for all his efforts opened his heart even more to the
project. Dr. Bader prayed and asked God to direct the next steps for
the QERC.

“One morning during my stay, I stood on the bluff overlooking
the Rio De Savegre, at a spot about 15 yards northeast of the current
two story building, to ask the Lord if I should attempt to raise money
for this project,” he said. “I have never felt in my life such a strong
leading from the Lord to do so. The voice was almost audible.”

Even though a lease had yet to be solidified for the QERC
property, Dr. Bader responded to God’s prompting by donating a
royalty check he had just received from his medical book on viral
hepatitis. He also challenged Olan Moore, who was 95 years old at the
time and was SNU’s first student body president in 1922, to match his
donation.

“I warned him that there was no lease yet and we could lose the
entire amount if a lease was not forthcoming on the property,” recalled
Dr. Bader. “He enthusiastically endorsed the idea and literally a
concrete bodega was quickly raised. The SNU QERC research banner
was quickly raised.”

Dr. Bader said the Lord truly blessed the fundraising from SNU
science alumni, as more than $100,000 was raised in just over a
six-month period.

“I have never seen such generosity before or since that time,”
Dr. Bader explained. “Don Dunnington was the Provost of SNU at the
time and his support, along with Loren Gresham’s, were absolutely key
in leading the cabinet to conclude the QERC lease. “

A native of Boulder, Colorado, Dr. Bader came to SNU with the
desire of attending a university where qualified professors taught from
a Christian perspective. His desire to become a doctor stemmed from
interest in human psychology and thought the combination of biology
and human psychology would be best combined as a doctor. During his
time as a student, Dr. Bader was grateful for the Christ-centered
instruction he received from his professors.

“I came to see that one could question anything and then supply
the Christian perspective to the issue,” he explained. “In most cases,
this perspective is by far the most intellectually satisfying.”

In addition to his work as a physician specializing in liver and
digestive diseases, Dr. Bader is a successful writer having authored a
textbook and a series of fictional novels with his wife Marilyn set in the
19th century.

Dr. Bader’s passion in supporting the SNU science community
through fundraising continues to this day. He said that he saw the
Lord’s hand in raising the QERC project and then eventually helping it
become financially self-sustaining. He is confident that SNU is once
again seeing God’s hand at work as the focus of Dr. Bader and the
Catalysts turns toward constructing a more modern science building on
the Bethany, Oklahoma campus as part of the Campaign For The
Sciences.

He explained that is important for alumni and university
supporters to become actively involved in the Campaign so that SNU
can continue to produce some of the nation’s finest scientific and
medical minds.

“Adequately funded and new equipment and space is more
essential to science than any other section of a University,” added Dr.
Bader. “Wesleyanism has always welcomed the best knowledge of faith
and science.”

Furthermore, Dr. Bader explained it is essential for Christian
universities like SNU to continue producing research scientists, working
scientists, physicians, nurses, and other health care personnel, so they
have an effect on every segment of society.

Founded in 1899, Southern Nazarene University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university - a service of the Church of the Nazarene. Located on a 40-acre campus just west of Oklahoma City, SNU grew out of several small colleges committed to training people for service to God and their fellow man. More than 32,000 alumni work and serve throughout the United States and the world. Read More